This website was created with the support of the Demj\u00e1n S\u00e1ndor Programme \u2013 Every Business Should Have Its Own Website. I had long been planning to create a dedicated, clear and well-structured online platform for my professional services, and the programme\u2019s support has now made this possible. In this post, I explain why I consider an independent digital presence important in a profession where a significant proportion of assignments have traditionally come through long-standing professional relationships.<\/p>\n\n
I have been providing translation services since 2002, and in 2006 I established my translation business. Since then, I have worked full-time as a specialised translator and proofreader. The vast majority of my assignments come from translation agencies, with approximately 90% of my current clients being agencies based outside Hungary. These professional relationships have developed through industry platforms and recommendations. I have been listed in the professional directory of fordit.hu since 2006, and I am also a member of the ProZ Certified PRO Network and the Association of Hungarian Translators and Interpreters.<\/p>\n\n
Over more than twenty years \u2014 twenty-four years of experience when including my broader professional career \u2014 most of my clients already knew my work before contacting me. This is a comfortable position, but also a vulnerable one: anyone who had not previously heard of me had nowhere to turn if they wanted to learn more.\n\nThese professional platforms work well, but each imposes a predefined framework: a few lines of introduction and a handful of keywords. They do not provide enough space for me to explain clearly and coherently what I do, which specialist fields I work in, and what clients can expect when they entrust their text to me. With my own website, that framework is mine, and I am also responsible for the content published here.<\/p>\n\n
Translation is a profession built on trust. People looking for a translator are generally unable to assess the quality of the work in advance, so they rely on what they can learn about the professional. That is why I believe it is important for my background to be available in one place and in a verifiable form.\n\nI obtained my Master\u2019s degree in Economics and my postgraduate qualification in English\u2013Hungarian specialised translation in economics from Janus Pannonius University in P\u00e9cs in 1995, followed by a postgraduate qualification in Law for Economists in 1996. Before becoming a full-time translator, I spent seven years working in marketing and market research roles at multinational companies, including Unilever and Coca-Cola.\n\nThis background continues to shape my areas of expertise today: I translate texts in the fields of economics, law, marketing and market research. Since 2017, I have also contributed to the translation of Eurobarometer public opinion surveys commissioned by the European Union.<\/p>\n\n
My own website also addresses the question of language accessibility. Since the vast majority of my clients are based abroad, an English-language version of the website is also being created. This allows international clients to access the same information in their own language, without an intermediary.\n\nThis is equally important in my day-to-day work. By using computer-assisted translation tools, commonly known as CAT tools \u2014 including SDL Trados Studio, memoQ, Phrase and XTM \u2014 I can ensure consistent terminology even in longer projects delivered in several stages. I aim to maintain the same level of consistency in the way I present my own professional profile.<\/p>\n\n
On the Services page, I have outlined my three main services \u2014 translation, proofreading and machine translation post-editing \u2014 together with my specialist fields.\n\nOn the Frequently Asked Questions page, I answer the questions that regularly arise in enquiries: how to request a quote, how to send me the text, how fees are calculated, and what certified translation means.\n\nThe About page presents my professional background and includes feedback from previous clients. I intend to use this blog to occasionally share thoughts and insights about translation work that I believe may be useful or worth discussing.<\/p>\n\n